Electric broiling device



Sept. 21, 1943..

A. C. ORKFRITZ ELECTRIC BROILING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY fi/berfCOr/ef/l z 2;; ATTORNEY.

P 1943- A. c. oRKFRlTz 2,329,937

ELECTRIC BROILING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

INYENTOR. Orfr/fz r 4 Sept. 21, 1943- A. c. ORKFRITZ ELECTRIC BROILINGDEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1940 INVENTOR. AQfF/E ATTORNEYPatented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC BROILINGavrcn Albert 0. OrkirItz, Elgin, n1.

- .Application June a, 1940, Serial No. 339,415 (o 219-19) l 8' Claims.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements inelectric brolling devices and has particular reference to a novel and,preferably portable, electric broiler for sausages and the like havingone or more tubularly arranged open electric grills adapted in operationto simulate broiling grills oi the open fire type such as wood, coal orcharcoal grills.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electric grillhaving one or more open grill compartments which are adapted to receiveone or more sausages therein for broiling whereby sausages, such asirankiurters or wienerwurst, and the like, may be broiled, browned, oreven charred by being subjected to the direct action of intense heatrays emanating directly from an electric heating element'or elements.

Another object of my invention is to provide a portableelectrically-operated broiler for sausages and the like having aplurality of open grill compartments removably positioned, preferably asa unit, within an elongated oval-like vertically coiled electricallyheated filament.

Still another feature of my invention resides in the arrangement of thesausage-supporting grills and of the heat producing filament whereby thevertical grill members of each open grill compartment are spaced toprovide supports at multiple points of the sausage sides and whereinlaterally spaced opposite portions of the laterally extending filamentare brought inwardly toward one another to form tubular oval-likeadjacent broiling compartments so that practically all side portions ofthe sausages are subjected to the direct broiling action of the'intenseheat of such tubularly arranged filament portions which practicallysurround the tubular grill compartments.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become readilyapparent from the perusal of the following specification and attacheddrawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, myinvention consists in in the novel combination, construction andarrangement of the parts and members illustrated in the attacheddrawings, described in the following specification, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

, Fig. 1 is a perspective view bodying my invention; 3

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the broiler shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the broiler shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged half portion of the upper of a broiler empart ofthe broiler shown in the vertical longitudinal section in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial horizontal section through one end of thebroiler, showing the grill, electrically heated filament and itssupport, the shield, andthe outer shell oi the'broiler housing;

Fig. 6 is a half plan view of the grill;

Figs. 7" and 8 are respectively half side and half end elevations of thegrill; I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail cross-section oi the sausage lifting barand its stationary support;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through a portion of the time-controlledsausage lifting bar mechanism;

Fig. 11 shows a half side elevation and half longltgdinal section oi abroiler embodying a modification of my invention;

."Fig. 12 shows a half end elevation and crosssection of the broilershown in Fig. 11, and

Fig. 13 is an illustrative detail showing the clearance in the heatingfilament winding, at

the ends of the broiler, for the lifting bar.

Referring to the illustrations, my improved broiler, as hereinpreferably shown, consists of a suitable, preferably cast iron, base I5to the upper face of which is suitably secured, as by bolts IS, ashell-like housing I! which is open at its lower end and also providedwith an elongated oval-like-opening IS.

The base member i5 is provided with a removable slidably mounted greasetray l9.

Insertable through opening l8 and supported on top of its marginal rimis a shield 20, preferably made of sheet metal, having a curved rim 2!at its upper and disposed over the top of the housing ii.

The shield 20, in the installation shown herein, is of a generaloval-like tubular form to fit into the oval opening l8 within the top ofthe housing i1, however, spaced intermediate oppositely disposed wallportions 22 of the shield sides are brought inwardly toward one anotherto define interconnected tubular broiling compartments 23 each ofpreferably oval cross-section,'and the opposite lower end portions areprovided with openings 24 for a lifting bar 25.

Within the shield 20 is a plurality of vertical filament supports 26 ofelectrically non-conductive material such as for example porcelain,

plurality of vertically spaced recesses or notches which are adapted toreceive therein the fila= ment 23 which is trained around these supportsit and the terminal ends of which are connected to the contact posts aswhich are connected with the electric socket 38 adapted to receive asuitable connection plug of an electric power conductor.

The supports 25 are provided with enlarged lower ends 3! which aresupported on the top of the base 55 and are secured thereto by suitablescrews 32.

It will now be readily apparent that the supports 25 and the filament 28trained about said supports, as shown in the drawings, define three ovalbroiling compartments 23.

A metal grill is provided which preferably is of cast iron and, asherein shown in the drawings, this grill consists of a plurality ofcomparatively narrow elongated spaced grill members 33 which aredisposed in parallel alignment with and adjacent to the inner faces ofthe filament supports 25. The lower ends of each compartment group ofgrill members 33 are connected by a split collar 34 having end alignedopenings 35 130 permit the movement of the lifting bar 25 therethrough.

Similar openings are provided in the heating filament windings at thegrill ends above the collar openings 35 to provide clearance for themovable lifting bar 25, as illustrated in Fig. 13.

The upper end portions of the grill members 33 are preferably formedwith flattened arcuate portions 36 which are connected to the elon-,gated metal cover 31, as by welding, and which cover is formed with aplurality of elongated oval openings 38 concentric with the oval tubularbroiling compartments 23 defined by the grill members 33.

The cover 31 is formed with integral end handles 39.

As preferably shown in the drawings, the grill members 33 are formed ofa V-shaped crosssection between their lower and upper end portions tothereby present line contacts with the sausage inserted therebetween.faces of such grills provide heat-deflecting faces and the line contactspresented for contact with the sausage sides overcome any possibletendency of the sausage to stick to these hot grills Obviously, thegrill may be made from cast iron or stamped sheet metal and the grills33 could be made of flat members of rectangular or other suitablecross-section.

Any suitable sausage lifting or ejecting mechanism controlled entirelymanually or by any suitable time or thermostatically controlledpower-driven mechanism may be provided for simultaneously raising thebroiled sausages partly out of the grill compartments 23 to facilitatetheir complete removal by the operator.

The herein illustrated lifting mechanism consists of thesausage-supporting elongated metallic member 40 preferably of channelcross-section and substantially of a length almost equal to the lengthof the three broiling compartments. This member 40 is loosely mountedover the lifting bar 25 and preferably is formed with a plurality oflateral integral prongs 4| disposed within the compartments 23 asadditional supports for the sausages, and is retained againstlongitudinal displacement by the eng ement of y the intermediate sets ofprongs,42 with the grill member 33. r

The lifting bar 2531s, 'as shown on the drawthe supports 48.

The angular assess? a spaced portion of the web portion of the bar 25and their lower ends are positioned about the lug 46 secured to the basetop.

Assuming that an electric current conductor is plugged into socket 3D toheat the filament 28 and that frankfurters are placed within the threecompartments 23, the same may then be lowered into broiling positionswithin the compartments 23 by grasping the handles 44 and azwegiing thebar 25 with the supporting memr a In such lowering movement, the bar 25will engage, with spaced side portions of its flange, within the forkedends 41* of a pair of arms 41 which are pivotally mounted on pins 48 'inwith the arms 5| and supported on the upstanding bearings 53.

In the downward movement of the bar 25, the forked ends Kit of the arms41 will be engaged by the flange of bar 25 and moved downwardly whiletheir opposite ends and the arms 5| will be moved upwardly to therebycause a partial rotation of shaft 52 one end of which shaft 52 isextended into a clock-controlled operator of any suitable'designgenerally indicated by numeral 54. The rotation of shaft 52 will wind upa clock spring within the operator 54 and the clock mechanism thereinwill retain or look the shaft 52 against released reverse movement untila timed release mechanism releases thelshaft 52 for reverse rotation topermit the springs 45 to raise the lifting bar 25 and the support 40with the broiled frankfurters thereon to the normal raised position asshown in Figs. 2. a and 10. w

The numeral 55 indicates a rotatable knob for selectively setting thetimed release mechanism.

The lifting bar 25 is held in the proper raised position in abutmentwith a of angle iron stops 56 by the two springs 45.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, Ihave adapted my invention to a horizontal type of broiler which includesa suitable hollow base 58 onto which is secured, as by the bolts 59, thehollow ornate casing or housing 50.

The hollow base 58 is provided with elongated somewhat cylindrical wallsfor the broiling chamhere A, B and C.

The walls 64 support the filaments 68 which are hooked into notches 01in the upper and lower edges oi the walls 84 and these filaments arealso secured to the longitudinal ridges between the arcuate races 85 byporcelain strips removabiy attached by screws 68.

The terminals 01 the filaments are electrically connected bytheconductors Ill to a suitable clock-controlled device generallyindicated A suitable electric connection socket I2 is provided which isadapted to receive a suitable connection plug of, an electric powerconductor for supplying electric current to the broiler filaments andclock-controlled device II.

A suitable electric pilot light 13 is provided for indicating the closedposition 01 the electric switch which controls the filaments.

The walls 64 are supported on U-shaped brackets 18 suitably removablysecured to the inside face of the casing 60.

The casing 60 is open at one end only and at such end is provided with acover 14 which has secured thereto a suitable handle 15. The cover 14 isformed with an integral drip pan It, at its lower end, which is guidedand retained between a pair of z-bars 11 secured to the top of the base58.

The pan IS-is arranged below the superposed chambers A, B and C toreceive therein the fat drippings from the broiled sausages, and theinner end X of this pan is in abutment with pushers 19 which are locatedone on each side of the clock-controlled device ll. Each pusher I9 ispivotally connected to a link 80 operable by the clock-controlledmechanism in the device II.

The broiler is provided with suitable means for supporting sausages, orthe like, within the central portions of the chambers A, B and C wheresame shall be exposed to heat rays emanating directly from the heatedfilaments 66. I have illustrated a preferred form of such supports inthe form of pointed elongated pin-like members 84 which are secured attheir rear end to the closure cover 14. A sausage 85, indicated bybroken lines in the broiling chamber B, is shown threaded upon thepin-like member 84.

The device H is provided with a control knob 8| for selectively settingthe time-controlled mechanism.

When knob BI is set for operation of the broiler, the spring in thedevice H is wound up by the rotation of knob 8|. The insertion of thesausage-loaded closure cover H into the easing 60 will move the, links80 rearwardly, and in such rearward movement of the links 80, an upperextension 82 on one of such links 80 is brought in engagement withswitch 83 to close the electric circuit which energizes the filaments 66and the pilot light 13.

When the period of time set by the knob 8| has elapsed the clockmechanism in the device II will act to move the links 80 forwardly tothereby cause a forward movement of the pushers 19 which will engage theinner end of the pan l6 and move same outwardly of the casing to aboutthe point Z. In such outward movement of the pan I6 and closure-cover14, the upper switch operating and 82 will be disengaged from I theswitch 83 to permit it to move into open position to open the circuit tothe filaments 66 and pilot light 13 whereupon the cover 14 may bemanually withdrawn to permit removal oi the broiled sausages.

I claim:

1. In an electric broiler for sausages and the like, a movable supportdisposed below the sausage, a tubular grill 0! oval cross-section, anelectric heat-emitting filament, and means for supporting said filamentdisposed about the outer face of said grill, said grill being composed0! laterally spaced vertically disposed bars adapted to retain a sausagein position on said support subject to broiling by the directunobstructed impingement thereon of intense heat rays emanating directlyfrom said heat-emitting filament through the openings between saidspaced grill bars.

2. In an electric broiler for sausages and the like, as embodied inclaim 1 and including means" for raising said movable support to raisethe broiled sausage partly out of the grill to facilitate its completeremoval therefrom.

3. In an electric broiler for sausages and the like, a support, aplurality of substantially circularly arranged vertically disposedspacedgrill members, a shield disposed about the outer sides 01 said grillmembers, an electric heat-emitting filament disposed between said grillmembers and said shield, and a plurality of electrically nonconductivelaterally spaced vertical members supporting said filament and eachpositioned between one of said grill members and said shield, said grillbeing adapted to retain a sausage in position on said support subject tobroiling by the direct unobstructed impingement thereon of intense heatemanating directly from said heat-emitting filament.

4. In an electric broiler for sausages and the like, a group ofadjacently positioned grills, each of said grills including a pluralityof substantially circularly arranged vertically disposed spaced grillmembers defining an individual sausage compartment, a vertical tubularplate shield disposed about the outer sides of said group of grills,said plate shield having inwardly bent opposite side portions disposedbetween the individual grill compartments, an electric heatemittingfilament disposed about said group of grills positioned between saidgrill members and said plate shield, a plurality of electricallynonconductive vertically disposed members each positioned adjacent theouter side of a grill member and between such grill member and saidplate shield for supporting said filament, and supporting means at thelower end of each grill compartment adapted to support a sausage.

5. In an electric broiler as embodied in claim 4 and wherein saidsupporting means comprises a single movable member extending through thelower ends of said grill compartments and adapted to be moved tosimultaneously raise all of the sausages partially out of saidcompartments to facilitate their removal.

6. In an electric broiler as embodied in claim 4 and including saidgrill members having a V- shaped cross-section.

7. In an electric broiler as embodied in claim 4 and including saidsupporting means comprising a member mounted for vertical movement inthe lower end of the grill, and means for raising said. member.

8. In an electric broiler as embodied in claim 4 and including saidsupporting means comprising a single movable support member extendinglaterally through the lower ends of said grill compartments and adaptedto simultaneously raise all of the sausages partially out of said compments, spring-pressed means normally retaining said support member inraised position, manually-operable means for lowering said supportmember, and time-controlled means for retaining said support member inlowered position against the pressure of said spring-pressed means for apredetermined period of time and automatically releasing said supportmember to support member. ALBERT C. ORKF RITZ.

